Planking-clamp



P. H. FLUHR.

PLANKING CLAMP. APPLICATION FILED AUG-6,1920.

Patented Nov. 1,1921.

PATENT OFFICE.

PHILIP H. .FLUHR, 0F NYAGK, NEW YORK.

PLAN KING-CLAMP.

Application filed August 6, 1920.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PHILIP H. FLUHR, a citizen of the United States, residing at N yack, inthe county of Rockland and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Planking- Clamps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to clamping devices, and more particularly to'a planking clamp adapted to be used in the building of ships,- vessels, boats and the like, and contemplates the provision of a tool of this class which maybe readily and economically manufactured, and will be efficient, practicable and effective in use.

When a vessel or ship is in the process of construction and the skeleton wood framework has been constructed, it is the practice to lay planking longitudinally of the vessel and across the ribs of the skeleton framework. The planks must be laid one above another and before a plank can be nailed to the ribs, it must be placed in its proper position with respect to the next adjacent plank, and firmly and rigidly'retained in such position during the process of nailing the plank to the rib. Heretofore a simple and well known form of clamp has been employed, which will grip the rib and adjacent portion of the plank together, but in order to edge-set the plank, that is to say, force the plank by means of edgewise pressure as closely as possible to the next lower plank in order that there will. be a minimum of space between the adjacent planks, and in order to prevent the calking from going through, it has been the common practice to also use any make-shift wedging means at hand. This practice of improvising wedges for edge-setting is objectionable in many ways. The wedges frequently slip or jar loose while the planking is being nailed, and-hence considerable loss of time results from this uncertain and crude method. Furthermore this method of using or adapting any form of boards, planks and the like at hand for'wedging purposes results in considerable waste of material. It is a further object therefore, of my improved clamping device to obviate and eliminate the above disadvantages and objectionable practices and to combine efficacy with economy.

As is usual in the construction of these vessels, a boring machine is used to drill holes for the reception of nails prior to nailing Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 1, 1921.

Serial No. 401,654.

the planks to the ribs of the framework. In the clamping devices heretofore employed, inasmuch as it was necessary to apply the clamp directly over the place where the plank is nailed to the rib, it was therefore necessary to removeand reposition the clamp before theboring machine could be used and the plank nailed to the rib, resulting in further loss of time.

Therefore it is the object of this invention to provide-a single planking clamping tool comprising three clamps adapted to perform in a single step in the planking of vessels what has heretofore required at least two steps. This unitary planking tool thus comprises an edge-setting clamp or tool, a re= taining clamp for holding the plank in position and adjustable to any position, and a gripping clamp adapted to engage and grip the ribof a vessel or the like.

Other objects of this invention will appear as the description proceeds, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved clamping device as applied in use; Fig. 2 is adetail view of the means of connectlon of the retaining clamp to the frame member; Fig. 3 is a detail view in cross section of the movable jaw of the clamping device.

In carrying out my invention, I provide a gripping member consisting of a U-shaped frame member or body A comprising a shank 2 and formed at its outer'free end with a fixed jaw or gripping element 3. The inner end 3 of the frame member is pro vided with a threaded opening 4 therethrough for a screw 6.

In the present embodimentof my invention, I have shown this screw 6 provided with a fixed thumb nut 7 for operating it, although it is to be understood that any suitable lever may be employed for this purpose. The screw 6 loosely carries at its inher end a movable cooperating jaw or gripping element 5 held in place for rotation by taper pins 21 as clearly shown inFig. 3. As illustrated in Fig. 1, I provide an edge-set ting tool E shiftably mounted in the movable or gripping element 5. The latter is provided with a threaded opening for the passage of the screw 8 having at its outer end a plate 9, which is loosely mounted thereon for rotation. This screw carries at its other end a thumb nut 10 for operating the edge-setting tool. Due to the fact therefore, that the movable'jaw 5 may be freely rotated about its axial line of movement,

jacent to the next lower plank -D, that in order to edge-set the plank C it is merely necessary'to adjust the plate 9 against the upper edge of this plank and by operating the thumb nut 10 the plank C will be firmly pressed by an edgewise movement against the edge of the next lower plank.

Due to the fact thatthe edge-setting tool E by virtue of its pivotal mounting in the gripping member may be rotated as desired around the axial line of movement of the movable jaw 5 or screw 6, it will'be seen that the plate 9 may be adapted to conformto any angle other than the horizontal shown inFig. l. Inasmuch as the plate 9 may also be rotated'it may more readily beaccommodated to varying surfaces and conditions.

lounted on the underside of the shank 2 of the frame member are a plurality of eye or loop formed brackets 11 for the swiveling portion 12 of an arm 13. Due to this swivel connection the arm 13 may be swung about the frame member A in any desired position, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, and this aim is provided; adjacent its outer end with a threaded opening for the reception of an operating screw id for a holding or retaining clampF. The screw 14 is provided at one end with a thumb nut 16 for operating it. and at the opposite end with a plate 15 looselymounted thereon for rotation.

It will be noted therefore, that this retaining clamp F is movable in a plurality of directions relative to the frame member.

In operation it will be seen that my improved elamping device is adapted to combine two important functions in the planking of vessels; namely, first, to retain or hold the plank C in position against the ribs 13 of the vessel, and second, to edge-set the plank by the'application of downward and edgewise'pressure, and thus position it firmly against the next lower plank, which has already been nailed in position against the ribs of the vessel. The clamp A is affixed to the rib B sufiioiently high to enable'the plank C to be placed in its proper position when the thumb nut 7 is'turned, so that the jaws 3 and 5 will firmly grip the rib. The plank C is thenv placed in position and the retaining clamp F applied at any desired point by operating the lever 16, thus firmly holding the plank against the ribs. The edge-setting tool E is then operated as here-.

It will be understood of course that by increasing the length of the arm13, the-p0.-

sition of the clamp plate 15 can always be instead of directly opposite the rib if preferred, and it will be observed that by means of this improved triple clamp the gripping means thereof formed by the jaws 3 and 5 can be so located on the rib that it does. not have to be moved and removed during the setting and fastening of eachblank to the rib.

I claim as my invention r f V 1. In a tool of the class described, gripping means, a clamping'jaw movable relatively thereto and rotatably supported thereby, and a second clamping jaw swin'gingly connected with said gripping means.

2. In a device of the class described, gripe ping means adapted to engage the rib of a vessel, a clamping jaw swingingly supported thereby for'clamping a plank in position, and edge setting means supported thereby for exerting edgewisepressure. against the plank to be fastened. w

3. In a tool of the class described, a frame member having a pair of gripping elements, aclamping jaw supported by one of said elements for movement at right angles to the plane of movement of said gripping elements, and a second clamping-jaw swingingly supported by said frame member.

{1. In a tool of the class described, a frame member having a pair of gripping elements, a clamping jaw mounted for movement at right angles to the plane of movement of said gripping elements, and retainingmeans swingingly supported by said'frame member and operable in the plane of'movement of said gripping elements.

5. In a tool of the class described,a frame member having gripping means adapted to engage the rib "of a vessel, edge-settin means rotatably mounted in said device, and

setting clamp jaw shiftably mounted in said device, and a retaining clamp jaw adjustably connected to said frame member for movement independently of the gripping means. i

' 7. In a device ofthe class described,-v

located at one or the other side of the rib a frame member having gripping means adapted to engage the rib of a vessel and provided with an edge-setting tool, a swing ing arm mounted in fixed relation to said frame member, and a retaining clamp jaw mounted adjacent the end of said swinging arm.

8. In a device of the class described, a frame member having gripping means adapted to engage the rib of a vessel and provided with a rotatable edge-setting tool, an arm swingably mounted on said frame member, a retaining clamp jaw adjustably mounted adjacent the end of said arm, and means for adjusting said clamp jaw.

9. In a device of the class described, a frame member having gripping means adapted to engage the rib of a vessel, said gripping means comprising a fixed element and a movable element, and an edge-setting tool adjustably mounted in said movable element and shiftable relatively to said frame member.

10. In a device of the class described, a frame member having gripping means adapted to engage the rib of a vessel, said gripping means comprising a fixed element and a movable element, an edge-setting tool adjustably mounted in said movable element and shiftable relatively to said frame memher, and means for shifting said edge-setting tool in any plane at right angles to the plane of movement of said movable element.

11. In a tool of the class described,

frame member having gripping means adapted to engage the rib of a vessel, edgesetting means movable in a plurality of directions relative to said frame member, and a retaining clamp jaw movable in a plurality of directions relative to said frame member.

12. A planking clamp comprising gripping means for positioning the clamp away from the plank to be fastened, shiftable means carried by said gripping means for clamping the plank in position to be fastened and shiftable into various positions relatively to said plank, and a clamping jaw carried by said gripping means for edgesetting the plank and movable in the direction of its length and transversely thereof.

13 A. planking clamp comprising grip ping means for positioning the clamp away from the plank to be fastened, a shiftable clamp jaw carried by said gripping means for clamping the plank in position to be fastened and shiftable into various positions relatively to said plank, and a movable clamping jaw also carried by said gripping means for edge-setting the plank, said gripping means and one of said jaws exerting pressure in one direct-ion and the other of said jaws exerting pressure in a transverse direction.

Signed at Nyack, in the county of Rockland, State of New York, this 2nd day of August, 1920.

PHILIP H. FLUHR. 

